Apparatus for building tires



July 16, 1940.

J. l. HAASE APPARATUS FOR BUILDING TIRES Filed Aug. 5,' 1935 14 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 16, 1940. `.1.1. HAAsE APPARATUS FOR `BUILDING 'TIRES Filed Aug. 5. 1935 14 ShetS-Sheet 2 July 16,` 1940.4V

J. l. HAASE APPARATUS`FOR BUILDING TIRES Filed Aug'. 5, 1935 14 Shetjs-Slieet 3 Oma/Mfg July 16, 1940. J, HAASE 2,208,324

APPARATUS Fon BUILDING .TIRES Filed Aug. 5, 1935 14 sheets-sheet 4 fly 4 July 16, 1940.` J. 1. HAAsE APPARATUS FOR BUILDING TIRES 14 sheets-sheet I5 Filed Aug. 5, 1955 July `16, 1940.

J. l. HAASE APPARATUS FOR BUILDING TIRES Filed Aug. 5, 1935, 14 Sheets-Sheet 6 Fay. 8.

3" 26771710, .sur/WZ 14 Sheets-Sheet 7 J. l. HAASE AA1P1^.P.A'rus FOR BUILDING TIRES Filed Aug. 5, 1935 July 16, 1940.

July 16, 1940, J. l. HAAsE APPARATUS FOR BUILDING TIRES 14 sheets-sheet a July 16, 1940. J. l. HAAsE 2,208,324

APPARATUS .Foa BUILDING TIRES Filed Aug. 5 1935 14 Sheets-Shea?l 10 filari/54516 July 16, 1940. HAASE 2,208,324

` .APPARATUS FOR BUILDING TIRES Filed Aug. 5. 1955 14 sheets-sheet l1 July 16,1940. 1 HASE i@208,324

APPARATUS FOR BUILDING TIRES Filed Au'g. 5, 1935 14sneets-sheet 12 Fig, 20. y@ l i 7;mm17a'fv 533259 )I APPLY mw J. HAAsE 2,208,324

APPARATJS FOR BUILDING TIRES Filed Aug. 5, 1935 July 16, 1940.

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July 1s, 1940.

J. l. HAASE APPARATUS FR BUILDING TIRES Filed Aug. 5, 1935 14 Sheets-Sheet 14 fo/"yen Haase Strat nu] Patented` July 16, 1940 UNITED STATES 4Pwr/ENT OFFICE einem APPARATUS FUR BUILDING- TIBES I Jorgen I. Haase, Akron, Ohio? assignor to Wingfoot Corporation, Wilmington. Del., a c lillwration oi' Delaware Application August 5, 1935, Serial No. 34,683

18 Claims.

This invention relates to the art of building pneumatic tires and it refers more particularly to a novel method and to novel steps in the method of building tires and to apparatus 'for practicing such method.

Prior to the present invention the. commercial manufacture of pneumatic tires has involved a large amount of manual labor which, to a cer tain extent, is reflected in the `uniformity or lack of uniformity of the product. As a result the labor cost is quite high and a large capital investment' is necesary for apparatus and factory space -to make possible production of` tires in large quantities. Numerous attempts have heretofore been made to provide semi-automatic machinery for reducing the amount of manual labor required, but lsuch prior 'suggestions have given One of the objects of this invention is the pro.-v

vision of a novel tire-building method and apparatus wherein a tire-'building'form and a fabricating station are relatively moved into and out of cooperative position with eachbother a plurality of times during the fabrication of a tire on said form. v

Another object of the invention is the provision of a novel tire-building method and apparatus wherein a pluralityof tire-building forms and a plurality of fabricating stations are' relatively moved successively into and out of cooperative positions a plurality of times during the fabrication of tires on said forms. .a l

v`Another object ofthe invention is the provision of a method of fabricating tires in a series of groups or batches and in which `the` tires/pf each group are delivered successively at\the station where their construction vwas initiated.

Another object of 'the invention is the provision -of a method wherein vthe tires in the course of construction are caused to traverse `a definite .path a plurality of times and to repeatedly be for various fabricating operations.

inthe order in which they are performed;

moved to different stations .located in such path vision of a method wherein a series of tire-building forms are moved in an orbital path towardand-away from a plurality of stations located. in such' path for different fabricating operations,A the construction and arrangement of the mech- 5 anism being such that the forms traverse such path and visit said stations a plurality of times before the tires `built on said forms are completed.

-Av still further object of the invention is thex10 provision of a compact apparatus in which certain tire-building operations are initiated manually at an attendants station, but in which succeeding operations are performed automatically in a predetermined cyclic` order and preferably'lii in timed relation.

With these and otherl objects in view, as well as other advantages which may be incident to the use of theimprovements, the invention consists in the several method steps and elements of the 204 apparatus and combinations thereof, hereinafter set forth and claimed with the understanding that such steps and elements may be varied in order *and in proportions and arrangement without departing from the natureand scope 011.25

the invention as defined in the appendedclaims. r In order to makethe invention more clearly understood there are shown in the accompanying drawings, means for carrying the invention into practical effect, without limiting the improvements in their useful application to the particular constructions which, for the purpose of explanation, `have been made the subject of illustration.

I' In the accompanying'drawings: -35

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of-a tire-building apparatus constructed lin accordance with the invention, certain portions of the frame being omitted forA the-sake of clarity;

Fig.- 2 is a. diagrammatic vertical section taken approximately on line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Figz3 is a diagrammatic plan ofthe structure showninFig.1; y,

Figs. 4 to 19 inclusive are diagrammatic views illustrating the several tire-building operations Fig. 20 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a complete cycle of operations necessary to com- Aplete asingle tire on one of the several forms or drums". y. y, 5o

Fig. 421 is a view'on a larger scale ofthe stitching' device located at stationtII;

0f the tread-Stitching device loc'bed at sta- Fig. 221s a fragmentary end view on a larger. scale A further obiectmf the inventionl is, the'proltion u i mately on line 25-25 of Fig. 24.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to Figures l, 2,-and 3 thereof, one form of apparatus constructed in accordance with the pres- -ent invention is shown yas comprising a base I formed 'with pedestals II which arc provided with bearings I2 in which a horizontally disposed supporting shaft I3 is fixedy against rotation. Mounted for intermittent rotation on the shaft I3 is a main carrying structure embodying a hub I4 formed at each end with disks I5 provided with a plurality of bearings I6, herein shown as six pairs, in which tubular shafts I1 are journaled. A roc-k shaft I8 is journaled for independent rotation Within each of the shafts I1 and is formed at its left hand or outer end as viewed in Fig. 2, with an enlargement I9 forming a shoulder 20 abutting the adjacent end of the shaft I1. These shafts together carry tirebuilding forms -or drums A, B, C, D, E and F.

which may be of any standard .or preferred construction, but which may be'describ'ed' as each comprising a plurality of collapsible sections 2i supported vby arms 22 fixed to the tubular shafts I1, and links 23 pivotally connected to arms A24 A fixed to the enlargement I9 of the inner rock shaft N3. The sections 2I of the drums may be collapsed to permit the removal of a tire and then expanded for a subsequent tire-fabricating operation, byv mechanism hereinafter to be described.

Associated with each of the several drums is a pair of supplemental ply-supporting members or drum extensions 25, each comprising a cylindrical portion 26 carried by 'a hub 21. The member 25 at the left-hand or outer side of the appara-- tus is slidably mounted on the enlargement I9 of the inner shaft I8 and is removable and operated manually. The member 25 at the righthand side of the drum is mounted permanently on the outer shaft I1 and is sldable-into and out of operative position with respecti to the drum by means of a lever 28 which is pivotally mounted on the left-hand disk I5, as at 29, and which is provided with a yoke 30 at its, outer end for engagement with a groove 3I formed in the hub 21 of this member. The lever 28 is swung about its pivot by a link 32, one end of which is pivotally connected to the lever 28 and the other. end of which is pivotally connected to a gear 33 eccentrically thereof. The gear 33 is journaled on the .right-hand' disk I5 and is rotated alternately in opposite directions by means of two rack bars 34 and 35 which are sildably mounted in the disks i5. These rack bars are actuated by mechanism hereinafter to be described.

Also associated with each of the several drums is a pair of bead-setting devices 36, each comprising\a cylindrical portion 31 carried by a hub 38 andthe left-hand one o f which 4is formed with a circumferential groove 39. The device 36 at the left-hand side of the drum is also slidably mounted on the enlargement I9 and is also removable and replaceable manually.

A detent49`is provided in the hub 38 of the removable device 36 for engagement with a circumferential groove 4I formed on the enlargement I9 so that the operator can determine when th device is in registry with the operating mechanism hereinafter to be described. The innerby means of the following described mechanism.V

The hub 38 of this inner bead-setting device 36 is xed to an elongated key 42 which is mounted for sliding movement in a keyway 43 formed in the shaft Handwhich extends along the shaft I1 within the outer circumference thereof and within the hub 21 of the adjacent member 25 and within the adjacent bearing I6. A colla'i` 44 formed with a circumferential groove 45 is slidably mounted on the shaft I1 and is fixed to the extreme .inner end of the key 42. A coiled spring 46 surrounds the shaft I1 between the collar 44 and a second collar 41 fixed to the shaft I1 and serves to normally maintain the inner bead-setting device 36 in the retracted position shown.

The main carrying structure is intermittently rotated about the shaft I3 in order to move the several drums successively to and from the different operating stations, by meansv of a fluidpressure device indicated generally at 48 (Fig. 1). This device comprises a plurality of guide rods 49, the lower ends of 4which are fixed in a block I) ypivotally connected by a pin 5I to the main frame structure of the apparatus, and the upper ends of which are connected by a yoke 52. A

fluid-pressure cylinder 53 is slidably mounted upon the guide rods 49 and has its piston rod 54 xed to the block 50 so that when fluid pressure is4 admitted to either the upperor lower end of 'the cylinder the same will move downwardly or upwardly, as the case may be. The cylinder 53 is provided with a vertically extending rack 55 which meshes with a ring gear 56 fixed tothe outer disk I5 of the carrying device so that downward movement of the cylinder will cause the drum-carrying device to revolve in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1. The uldpressure device 48 is swung/about its pivot pin 5I Ain order to engage the rack 55 with the ring gear 56 on the downward stroke of the cylinder 53 and to disengage the same therefrom on the upward stroke of the cylinder 53, by means of a fluid-pressure device 51. This device comprises a cylinder 58 pivotally mounted on the main frame of the apparatus and which is provided with a piston rod 59 secured at its forward end to a bar 60. This bar is pivotally connected by a pin 6I between ears 62 formed on the yoke 52.

The. carrying device is maintained against movement between its periods of rotation by means of a detent-or latch device in the form of a bell crank'lever 63 which is pivotally mounted on the frame by a pin 64. One arm 65 of this lever is provided with a hook portion 66 adapted to enin which the rack 55 is in driving engagement with the ring gear 56, the collar 68 engages the arm 61 of the bell crank lever 63 and swings the same in a counterclockwise direction so as tov lift the hook portion 66 of the arm 65 out of engagement with the teeth of the ring gear k56, thus permitting the carrying device to turn. When, however, the cylinder 53-isswung to the right in order to disengage the rack 55 from the ring.

gear 50 'at the 'end of its stroke, the collar 50 releases the arm51, thus permitting the arm 65 f and hook portion to descend into engagement with the teeth of the ring gear 56 and lock it against rotation. i v

'I'he several tire-forming drums A,B, C, D, E and F are rotated in the directions indicated by -the arrows in Fig. 1 during their periods of dwell at the :different fabricating stations by means of a plurality of variable speed. reversible electric motors 59 corresponding in number vwith the number of tire-forming drums and one of which is located at each of the fabricating stations. Each of these motors 59 is provided with a pinion 10 which meshes with and drives a gear wheel 1| fixed to one end of a shaft A pinion 14 is fixed to the vopposite end of each of the shafts 12 for constant intermeshing engagement with a pinion 1.5

which is rotatably mounted upon a stub shaft 16 carried by links 11 swingingly mounted upon theshaft 12. 'I'he several pinions 15 are disposed in the path of travel of pinions 18, each of which is of4 multipart construction in that it embodies a portion 19 which is keyed to one of the shafts |1 and a portion 80 which is keyed to the inner shaft I8. A ball detent 8| yleldably maintains the parts 19 and 80 in positions wherein .the teeth are in registry. Thus', it will be apparent that when the drums reach the several fabricating stations thepinions 18 engage the pinions 15, thus causing the drums to rotate at desired speed and' in .desired direction during the various tirel building operations only when current is supplied to'motors 69. The pinion 15 located at station I is of less width than those at the other stations in that it is only as wide a's the parts 19 of the pinions 104 (Fig-3) for a purpose now to be collapsing the several drums to permit of the re- Y moval of a finished tire and for thereafter expanding the same for subsequent tire-fabricating operations. 'Ihis device comprises a fluid-pressure vcylinder 02 which'is carried by the main frameJandwhich actuates a piston rod 83 provided with a rack bar 04. When a drum carrying a nished tire arrives at this station fluid pressure is admitted into the rear of the cylinder 82 Y causing the piston rod 03 to be projected inwardrelatively narrowportion 00 of the pinion 10 only and therack bar 04 to engage and rotate the the shaft |'0 against the action of the bail detent 0|, which it unlatches, while the shaftl |1 is held against rotation by the closed gear train back to motor 50.` This relative rotation of the shafts |1 and |0 actuates the linkage mechanism 22-20 in a well-known manner to collapse the sections 2| of the drum and to permit the finished tire casing to be removed. Fluid pressure is then admitted to the front end of the cylinder 02, thus causing the piston rod 03 and rack bar 04 to beretractedgndthesections'llofthedmmto be expanded to their normal cylindrical shape.,

7 5 NlobeatedatshtionIaretwoildd-pmre the fabric.

cylinders u and n provided with pawn rods 'n and 00 respectively, the former being disposed in alignment with the path of travel of the rack bar 00 and the latter in ,alignment with the path of travel of the rack bar 35. actuate the rack bars 00 and 0,5 in opposite directions in order tomove the inner supplemental ply-supporting members 25 into and out of operative relation with the several drums at the proper times, as will hereinafter be explained. n

Located at stations II and 111 are two cementing devices, 00 and 00 respectively, one for. applying a coating of cementsin a narrow band to one edge of the drums and the other one forapplying a similar coating of cement to the opposite edge of the drums while' they rotate at these stations. Each of these devices comprises a receptacle 9| for containing a supply of cement and having a brush 02 pivotally mounted thereon, lwhich is periodically swung between the receptacle and the drum by means of a Huid-pressure device 93. Also located at station II above the drum is a stitching device 0I for pressing down-the Ifirst two pliesof fabric along their edges to insure that they adhere to the cemented edges of the drum. This device comprisesa rock shaft 95 which is journaled at its ends in a bracket 0G carried by the main frame and stationary shaft I3 and which'carries arms 01'adjacent'to its ends.

A shaft 90 is journaled in the arms 91 and is provided with rolls 00, one at each end thereof and with a single intermediate roll |00. The rolls 00 are of a'slightly larger diameter than the roll |00 so that when they are in engagement with the fabric at the ends of the drums, the in- 'These cylinders termediate roll |00 will be out of contact therewith, and so that when the intermediate roll |00 is in engagement with the breaker strip or tread the end rolls |00 will be out of engagement with The rolls 99 and |00 are lowered and raised into and out of engagement with the fabric, breaker strip and tread by means of a lever |0| which is fixed to one endof the shaft 405 and which is pivotally connected with the the drum at one side thereof, and the latter for performing the same operation at the opposite side of the drum. Each of these devices comprises a rock shaft |05l journaled in bearing brackets |00 carried by the frame ofthe ap' paratus. An arm |01 having a yoke |00 at its lower end is keyed for axial* sliding movement on the shaft |05 and is provided at its upper end with a stitching roller |00 for engagement with the plies at the edge of the drum. An arm ||0 is flxedto, the other end Aof the shaft |05 and is pivotally connected with a piston rod of a fluid-l pressure cylinder which is. in turn pivotally connected to the main frame.

A traveler lug uz is also, keyed to the shaft les l between the-arms of the yoke |00 for intermesh- Ving engagement with a worm H0 which is jornaled in the bearing brackets |05 and 'is provided with a gear ||0` at one end for driving engagef ment with a train of gears ||5 driven by a'reversible motor ||0 The operations of this motor and that of the fluid-pressure cylinder HI, are so timed thatv when, in the cycle of operations, a drum having the plies of rubberized fabric applied thereto suc- I5 i cessively arrivesat stations II and III, the worm I3 is rotated to move the stitching roller |09 inwardly to its initial position over the drum and then for combining the motions of the roller |09 both axially and radially inwardly by means of the motor ||6 and fluid pressure cylinder I Also located at station III is another tread stitching device ||1 for stitching down both the fabric plies and the tread longitudinally of the drum. This particular device comprises two rock shafts ||8 arranged in axial alignment and journaled in bearings ||9 formed on a bracket |20 carried by the main frame and stationary shaft I3. Levers |2| are each splined adjacent to its middle to one of the shafts ||8 for Racking movement therewith and also for sliding movement longitudinally thereof. One arm of each of the levers |2I is provided with astitching roller |22 and the other arm thereof is formed engagement with worms |24 and |25 of opposite pitch, each worm having rightand left-hand pitch portions meeting at the center, the former being engaged by said threaded portion when the roller |22 is moved into engagement with the fabric and the latter being engaged by said threaded portion when the roller' |22 is moved out of engagement ywith the fabric. The shafts ||8 are independently rocked so as to vmove the rollers |22 into and out of engagement with the fabric by means of fluid-pressure cylinders |26 whichare pivotally mounted on the bracket |20 and the piston rods |21 which are pivotally connected to arms |28 fixed to the outer ends of the shafts H0. The 'Worms |24 and |25 are rotated in order to move the rollers |22 from a position' central of the drum, outwardly therefrom when these rollers are in contact with the fabric, and to move the same inwardly to their initial position when out of contact with the fabric, by means of an electric motor |29 through the medium of gearing trains |30.

Located at station IV is the mechanism for operating' the bead setting devices 36. This mechanism comprises a fluid-pressure cylinder |3| which is slidably mounted on guide rods |32 carried at their ends by levers |33 having -a pivoted yconnection- |34 with the frame. The cylinder |3| is provided with' a piston rod |35 which isxed in a bracket |36 slidably mounted on the rods- |32 and which is provided with arms |31 for engagement with the groove 39 in the hub of the outer bead-setting device 38. The cylinder |3|` is also formed with an extension |38 which is provided with arms |39 for engagement with the groove 45 in the collar 44. The arms .|31 and |39 are periodically moved into and out of engagement withl the grooves 39 and 45 by means of a fluid-pressure cylinder |40 which is pivotally mounted on the main frame and which is provided with a piston rod |4| having a pivoted connection with one of the rods |32. It will be apparent that when the arms |31 and |39 are swung into engagement with the grooves39 and 45 and uid pressure is applied .to the cylinder |3I, in front of its piston (not shown), the device as a whole will draw the arms |31 and |39 toward one another, thus moving the beadsetting devices 36 and bead 36a carried thereby, into operative engagement with the drum which is located at this station at this time. Also, it

will be apparent that Unotwithstanding the fact that one of the devices 36 may contact with the drum before the other and comes to rest, the

'other device will continue to move until it also l seats its bead 36a.

Also located vat station IV are two devices |42 for trimming the edges of thesidey walls of the tread of the nished tire (Fig. 18). These devices each comprise a discoidal knife |43 -which is mounted on the end of the piston rod |44 Located on opposite sides of the `drum atV sta.-v tion V are stitching devices |41 and |415, the

former for turning plies below the beads'radially outwardly around the bead 36a (Fig. 9), and .the latter for stitching the plies above the beads radially inwardly around the beads 36a (Fig. 14).

Located on opposite sides of the drum at station VI are stitching devices |48 and |46, the former for turning plies above the beads radially inwardly around the bead 36a (Fig. l5), and the latter for stitching plies below the beads radially'outwardly around the bead 36a (Fig. 10). The particular arrangement just described, permits the most advantageous stitching in biascut fabric.

Each of the devices |41, |418, |46 and |40 comprises a bearing .|49 which is mounted for swinging movement upon a shaft |50 fixed in bearings carried by the main frame. 'I'he bearing |49 is formed with a hub |52 extending at right angles thereti) in which a shaft |53 is fixed. Rotatably mounted onthe shaft- |53v is a bearing |54 formed with a tubular arm |55, the axis of which extends parallel with that of the bearing |54, but which is loilset laterally thereto. Journaled in the arm |55 is a shaft |56 providedwith a stitching roller |51 at its lower or outer end and with a gear |58 at its inner or upper end.' This shaft is rotated in order to. swing the roller |51 to and from its operative position and also during the stitching operation, by means of a fluid-pressure cylinder -|59 which is xed to the side of the bearing |54 and whichactuatesa rack |'6l0 which meshes with the gear |58. .The

meshing engagement with an elongated gear |61 rotatably mounted on a shaft |66 fixed in bearings |69 carried by the main frame. The gear |61 mesheswith a segmental rack |10 adjustably mounted on the end of an arm |1| xed to the bearing |49. The movement of the rack |66 may be regulated by an oil-filled cylinder |12 in the manner of a dash pot. Thus, it will be seen that by properly lregulating and timing the flow of fluid under pressure to and from. the several cylinders |59', |6| and |65 a combination of movements is imparted to the stitching roller |51, such as not only will swing the same to and from its operative position but will cause the roller to move around the bead of the tire and stitch down the fabric uniformly and eficiently.

First rotation-In operation, let it be assumed that the apparatus is being employed for the rst time and that no fabric has yet been placed on any of the drums. Let it also be assumed that during its dwell lat station I the drum A has been collapsed, the inner bead- 36 positioned on the inner bead ring 36 and the drum again 'expanded. 'I'he next partial rotation of the drum carrier will move the drum A to station 1I where it will be rotated by motor,69 and where the cementing device 8 9 will apply a. band of cement around the drum adjacent to one edge thereof (Figli). The next partial rotation of the car- A rying device will move the drum A to station III nfirst ply a of bias-cut fabric is applied to the drum manually by the operator (Fig. 5). No further operations are performed on drum A during this rotation.

Third rotation.-When the 4drum A .comes to -rest at station vI upon the completion of its second rotation, the secondy ply b of fabric is applied to the drum, the supplemental ply-support- I ing members 25 are removed and the outer bead setting device 36 carrying a bead 36 is mounted on the end of the enlargement I9. The next partial rotation of' the carrying device moves the drum A to station II where the stitching devices 94l and |03 arelocated, the former stitching down the fiat portion of the first two plies of fabric so that it will adhere to the cement and the latter for stitching the fabric around one end of the d rum (Fig. 6). The succeeding partial rotation of the carrying ldevice moves the drum .A to station III where the second stitching device ldstitches down the first two plies offabric around the other end of the drum (Fig. '7).

The next partial rotation of the carrying device moves the drum A to station IV where the arms |31 and |39 are swung into engagement with the grooves 39 and 45, respectively, in the hub 38 and collar Il of the outerl and inner bead-setting devices 36 and then moved axially inwardly, thus setting the beadsl 36B. The bead-setting devicesare then retracted by reversing these op erations, leaving the beads 36 securely aixed to the stitched-down portions of the rst two plies of fabric (Fig. 8). The succeeding partial rotation of the carrying device moves the drum A to -station V where the stitchingdevice Ml' stitches the edges of the rst two plies a and b of fabric radially outwardly and over the bead 36 at one end of the drum (Fig. 9). The next partial rotation of the carrying device .moves the drum A to station VI-where the stitching device |48* stitches the edges of the first two plies a and 'b of fabric radially outwardly and over the bead 33* at the other side ofthe drum (Fig. 10). The succeeding partial rotation .of the carrying device returns thedrum A to station I,

completing its third revolution.

Fourth. martinm-During the period of dwell of drum A'at station I the outer bead setting device 36 is removed, the supplemental ply-sup-` porting members 2 6 again assembled adjacent to the ends bf the vdrumand the third ply c of fabric applied upon the rst two pliesb and b (Fig.

11). No further operations are performed on drum A during its fourth revolution.

Fifth rotation- During the period of dwell of drum A at station I after completing its fourth rotation the fourth ply d of fabric is applied upon the third ply (Fig. 11). No further operaiduring its nfth tion II where the intermediate roller |00 of the sitching device 94 stitches down the central portion of the breaker strip and thereby also the central portions of the last two plies of fabric (Fig. 12). The succeeding partial rotation of the carrying device moves the drum A to stav tion HI where the stitching devices |22 stitches Y plies of fabric and the chafer strips radially inwardly under the edges of the beads 36 4at each end of the drum. vThe next partial rotation of the drum carrier takes the drum A to' station I, thus completing the sixth revolution thereof.

Seventh rotation- During the period of dwell of drum A at station I, the \tread g is applied over the breaker and chafer strips e and f. The drum vis then moved to station II where the intermediate roller |00 of the stitching device 84 stitches down the central or crown 'portion of the tread g (Fig. 16). The next movement of the carrying devicemoves the drum A to station III where the rollers |22 of the stitching device |11 stitch down the remaining portions ofv the tread.

'During the period of dwell of the drum A at station IV the knives |43 trim the edges of .the tread .(Fig. 18). The tire now being' completed no further operations are performed at stations station IV but at stations V and VI the stitching devices |4551 and |48 stitch the third and fourth V and VI. When the drum carrying the nished tire arrives'again at station I at Ithe conclusion of its seventh revolution the drum is collapsed by mechanism previously described and the tire removed therefrom (Fig. 19). It will be noted times for each six completed tires.

stood that tires are being built up simultaneously on all of the drums, the several operations occurring in predetermined relation at the diff ferent stations in sequence and in the Aorder described.

One complete cycle of operation, as previously explained, is illustrated diagrammatically in Fig.

. 20 by way of giving a comprehensive wiew of the invention. From this it will be seen that the tire- 'building drums rotate seven times through their forbit in the production of a single group or batch of tires corresponding-in number with the number of drums employed. 'Ihe rotation of the drums through their orbit is intermittent, each drum stopping at each of six stations in the course vof each revolution. Asthe drums thus pass from station to station, Athe tires are gradually built up, all of the operations being per-` vided for practicing such novel method.

formed at each station they are not repeated in each revolution of the drums. At some stations several different operations are performed in the successive rotations, yet 4during some of the rotations there are some stations where no operations are performed.

Thus, in Fig. 20 the seven large circles represent the lseven successive rotations of the drums in their path of travel through one complete cycle. The small circles represent the drums (six in number) and the roman numerals I, II, III, IV, V, VI represent the stations at which the drums stopl in the course of their intermittent rotation. Some of the small circles representing the drums are shown in light line and others in heavy line, and this is to indicate graphically the stations at which operations are performed. The heavy-line drum circles show that at the so-indicated stations certain operations are performed, the nature of the 'specific operations being given in the legends adjacent the drums or drum circles. The light-line drum circles indicate that at those particular points in the cycle no operations are performed. Thus, in the rst rotation, operations are performed at stations I, II and III but none at stations IV, V and VI. In the second rotation an operation is performed at station I only. In the third rotation operations are performed at all six of the stations. In the .fourth and fifth rotations operations are performed only at station I. In the sixth rotation operations are performed at stations I, II,III, V and VI while nothing transpires at station IV.

In the seventh rotation operations are performed only at stations I, II, III andIV. The operations at station I are performed manually while those at the other five stations are carried out automatically vwithout requiring any attention, selection or control by the operator.

The various automatic operations hereinabove described occur in a predetermined cyclic order, the same being controlled by suitable electrically operated valves not shown. The various component materials may be initially supplied and applied manually at station I, whereas all of the y other operations referred to are performed entirely automatically, requiring neither selectionY nor attention by the attendant.

From the foregoing it will be evident that a novel method has been devised for constructing tires, and efficient apparatus has also been pro- The tires are built up in stages by automatic operations and with a minimum of hand labor, resulting in substantial savings, and they are built in groups or batches instead of one at a time. In the drawings the main frame structure has been omitted and certain parts illustrated diagramf matically for the sake of clarity. VO1 course, the invention is susceptible f. of numerous modifican tions in the steps ,of` the method and in the arrangement of the apparatus. Thus, for example, there may beeither more or less than six tirebuilding forms, and the specific number of operating stations may also be varied. The tirebuilding forms may be either flat drums, crown drums, cores or the like, and they may be oscillated, or otherwise moved if desired, instead of moved through an orbital path, the movement being in any preferred plane. Furthermore, the invention is not limited merely to movement of the building forms with reference to the various operating stations, but is intended to comprehend movement of either the forms or the stations or both. Other changes may also be made in the details of construction and'in the order and arrangement of method steps, and the right is herein reserved to make such changes as fall within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1.' Tire-building apparatus comprising a support for. a plurality of tire-building forms, a plurality of tire-building forms thereon, means for moving said support to present the forms successively and repeatedly to different operating stations, means to facilitate application of tire-- building materials to the forms at one-of the stations, and means for uniting such materials on the forms at other stations.

2.' Tire-building apparatus comprising a suplill port for a plurality of tire-building forms, a plurality lof tire-building forms circumferentially spaced thereon, means for rotating said support intermittently through several revolutions to present the forms successively and repeatedly to different operating stations, means to facilitate manual application of tire-building materials in successive stages at only one of the stations, and means for uniting such materials progressively at other stations.

3. 'Iire-building apparatus comprising a support for a plurality of tire-building forms, a plurality of tire-building forms circumferentially spaced thereon', means for rotating said support intermittently through several revolutions to present the forms successively and repeatedly to different operating stations, means to facilitate application of ply fabric to the forms at only one of the stations, means for applying beads to the fabric at another station, and means fortying-in the beads with the fabric at still other stations.

4. 'Iire-building apparatus comprising a plurality of tire-building forms mounted for movement in an endless path, tire-fabricating instrumntalities of different kinds located at different stations along said path, and means for repeatedly moving said forms over said path during a complete cycle to repeatedly present each of said forms to the same station for different kinds of fabricating operations upon the samertira..

5. Tire-building apparatus comprising a plurality of tire-building forms mounted for intermittent movement in an endless path, tire-fabricating instrumentalities of different kinds located at different stations along said path, means for repeatedly moving said forms over said path during a complete cycle to repeatedly present each of said forms to the same station for ydifferent kinds of fabricating operations on the same tire, and means for rotating said forms during their periods of dwell at each of said stations.

6. Tire-building apparatus comprising a plurality of tire-building drums mounted for intermittent revolution in an endless path about a horizontal axis, tire-fabricating instrumentalities of different kinds located at different stations along said path, means for repeatedly revolving said drums several times about said axis to repeatedly present each of said drums tothe same statiom for different fabricating operations on the same tire, and means for rotatingsaid drums -about .their individual horizontal axes during their periods of dwell at each of said stations. 

